Briefs

Additional Photos

Bonny Eagle High School National Honor Society members, from left, rear, Connor Shields, Ian Smith, Marley Harmon and Gaelyn Lindauer, and from left, front, Natalie Hewitt and Samantha Cox show off hats, mittens and gloves the group purchased to benefit Greater Portland area foster children from Woodfords Foster Services. Kathy Campbell photo

Nick Prato, a seventh-grader at Frank Harrison Middle School in Yarmouth, won the top prize in a statewide Silent Spring essay contest. With him are Karrie Schwaab, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, left, and Suzanne Kahn Eder, Wells Reserve at Laudholm. Other top winners were Drake Janes of Adams School in Castine, and Crystal Bell and Samantha McIntyre, both of Holbrook Middle School in Holden. The winners were selected from 257 essays, submitted from 24 schools across the state. Nineteen honorable mentions also were awarded. Photo courtesy of Wells Reserve at Laudholm

Friends of Baxter State Park invites Maine high school sophomores and juniors to submit applications to participate in the Fifth Annual Maine Youth Wilderness Leadership Program that will backpack through Baxter State Park Aug. 3-11.

The program, funded through donations in collaboration with Baxter State Park and the Chewonki Foundation and Friends of Baxter State Park, is offered at no direct cost to students.

Ten spots are open for the eight-night outing that is intended to impart an understanding of the Maine wilderness through science, art, storytelling, photography, writing, history and recreation.

Participants will be accompanied by experienced wilderness leaders from the Chewonki Foundation and will work with a variety of specialists as they hike, camping at different sites, including three nights in the backcountry at Russell Pond.

The American Legion, Department of Maine, is accepting nominations for the 2013 Eagle Scout of the Year title.

The state winner will receive a $500 scholarship and will automatically be entered in the national competition for a chance to win the national title and a $10,000 scholarship or one of three $2,500 scholarships.

The award is open to all Eagle Scouts who are at least age 15, enrolled in high school and meet eligibility criteria.

Applications are available through The American Legion, by writing to P.O. Box 900, Waterville, Maine 04903-0900, by calling 873-3229 or by going to www.mainelegion.org. Applications must be received at Department Headquarters by March 1.

SACO

Chamber cites Wolfahrt

Dean Wolfahrt received the A. William Kany Jr. Leadership Award at the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting on Jan. 15.

The award recognizes Wolfahrt as a local leader who has made major contributions to improve the community for more than a decade.

Wolfahrt is the executive director of the McArthur Home for Aged People Association. He has been president of the McArthur Library Association for 18 years and is on the Southern Maine Medical Center’s board of directors.

Wolfahrt has coached varsity lacrosse at Thornton Academy for many years; has been instrumental in coordinating Mary’s Walk fundraising activities and is involved in Saco’s Jump Start Program for non-violent juvenile offenders.

Wolfahrt is the owner of the Biddeford Dairy Queen, where he supports his student employees’ education goals.

NAPLES

Special teacher recognized

Lake Region High School teacher Mary Hubka was recognized as an Unsung Hero in the Saint Michael’s College Teacher Recognition Program at Colchester, Vt., for providing her students with the academic skills and moral support necessary to be successful in post-secondary pursuits.

Hubka was nominated by Saint Michael’s freshman Shannon VanLoan, a Lake Region High School graduate and former student of Hubka who noted the teacher’s presence and actions in helping her to succeed in high school and beyond.

SANFORD

Help for expectant women

A grant from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation will support Goodall Hospital’s new C.A.R.E. (Collaboration Allows Real Empowerment) Program for expectant women at the Center for Women’s Health in Sanford.

The goal of the program is to help expectant mothers take control of their health and the health of their babies.

More than 20 Sanford High School Key Club members partnered with local Kiwanis members during the recent Christmas season to raise $2,523.53 for the Salvation Army during a three-day ringing event and an additional $863.04 during another one-day event.

Key Club members also joined with the local Kiwanis and Rotary clubs to put on a Christmas party for 130 needy youths and their families. The annual event included donations of food, toys and clothes from local groups and businesses, including the Salvation Army, Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts and Shaw’s.

Rides for cancer patients

York County Community Action Corp.’s Transportation Program has received a $10,000 grant by the Maine Cancer Foundation to support its Connecting to Cancer Care Program to provide York County cancer patients with transportation to appointments.

In 2012, the service logged more than 18,000 miles for residents who would otherwise not have had access to care. For more information, call Brad Bohon at 324-5762 extension 2954.

PORTLAND

Older volunteers sought

The Opportunity Alliance has openings for individuals who wish to volunteer as foster grandparents and senior companions in York, Cumberland and southern Oxford counties.

Foster grandparents volunteer with children in schools, child development centers or in the home with a family. Senior companions visit seniors who are living independently or attending an adult day program.

Volunteers, who must be age 55 or older, are asked to serve at least 15 hours a week. Those who meet income guidelines receive a tax-free stipend, mileage reimbursement and other benefits that do not affect Social Security, food stamps, LIHEAP or subsidized housing eligibility. To learn more, call 773-0202.

Boost for financial literacy

Community Financial Literacy has received a grant from the Jane B. Cook 1983 Charitable Trust to support its financial literacy services to Portland and Lewiston communities.

The economic development and educational organization helps refugees and immigrants in Maine become self-sufficient through financial education, literacy classes, workshops and individual counseling.

For more information, call Claude Rwaganje at 797-7890 or go to www.cflmaine.org.

Outing Club gets grant

The Cheverus High School Outing Club has been awarded a $500 Teens to Trails grant through the organization’s Grants to Clubs program to be used for a cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trip in the coming months.

The outing club was founded in 2003 to engage students in physical activity and environmental stewardship while developing leadership and survival skills.

Cheverus seniors volunteer

Cheverus High School seniors participated in two social justice efforts in December that included volunteer service at the Riverton School/Community Center and the Preble Street Soup Kitchen.

Portland High School senior Adam Lamontagne has been awarded the rank of Eagle Scout by the National Council of Boy Scouts of Maine.

For his qualifying Eagle Scout project, Lamontagne, 18, built picnic tables and easels for the Fiddlehead Center in Gray.

Lamontagne researched the designs, raised money and requested donations of materials for the project that was completed with the assistance of Boy Scout Troop 41.

BUXTON

Memorable music lesson

Bonny Eagle High School Band members recently gave a performance for third-graders at Buxton Center Elementary School.

The band’s director, Jake Sturtevant, introduced the band and talked about the music they played. The musicians also gave a tutorial on the different instruments they played, followed by a final performance featuring a program dubbed “Young Person’s Guide to John Williams and Wipeout.”

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